How to Choose Salon Location?

Choosing a great salon location is vital for any salon owner as it can majorly impact your future success. Salons with good locations tend to attract more clients and have better customer retention rates. Those with poor locations can struggle to survive due to a lack of clientele.

So, finding the right location for your salon is a "make or break" factor. This isn't something you can take lightly. But if you're unsure how to start, this guide will help.

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1. Finding a Salon Location
2. What Factors Should Be Considered in Choosing a Location for a Salon?
3. Best Place to Open a Hair Salon
4. Conclusion

Finding a Salon Location

Location is a major factor for any salon owner to consider. Even if you have super staff and great products and services, you still need to have an attractive, convenient location to draw customers to your business.

It's something that really can have a direct impact on your revenue and profits. With the right location, your salon business can thrive, with a poor one, you might struggle to hit your target goals and grow the way you planned.

In other words, finding a salon location is arguably the biggest decision when starting a salon business. It will require a lot of research. So you'll need to be willing to put in plenty of time and effort if you want to choose the perfect spot.

You can't just pick the first place you find. There are various factors to consider and compare the pros and cons of various places. With hard work and time, you can find the right home for your new salon.

What Factors Should Be Considered in Choosing a Location for a Salon?

• 1. Rent

  Of course, one of the first factors to consider when finding a location for your salon business is the rent price. Most salon owners rent places rather than buying them outright. Salon suites and booth rental are also very popular amongst hairdressers. You need to make sure that the rent price is fair and within your budget. It’s a good idea to compare a few properties in the same neighborhood or area to figure out the average rates. This way, you’ll know roughly what sort of lease agreement is reasonable to expect.

• 2. Space

  You need to consider space, too. Think about all of the equipment you need to put in your salon. You might have chairs, mirrors, desks, cabinets for salon suites, and so on. You have to find a place with enough space to contain all of those items, and any other essentials you need to run your business effectively. But don’t go too far. A more spacious salon can be more appealing to clients, but it also costs more to heat and clean up.

• 3. Layout

  As well as the space, you should also think about the general shape and layout of the place you plan to use. Think about how you’re going to arrange your business once it’s all set up. Where will you put the shampoo stations? Where will the reception desk be? Is there a WC? Will you have enough space to store inventory? And so on.

• 4. Utilities And Other Costs

  When planning to open a salon, you also need to think about the utility costs you’ll have to pay. These costs will need to be paid every month, including things like internet services, phone line, alarm system, heating, electricity, and so on. Rates for these sorts of services can vary greatly from place to place. Carry out research and figure out how much you’ll have to pay.

• 5. Conditions of The Premises

  What sort of condition is your potential salon location actually in? Some spaces might be quite modern and new, ready for you to move in right away. Others, however, might have issues in need of repair, which could delay the opening of your business’ grand opening plans and may affect your budget as well.

• 6. Conditions of The Building

  It’s wise to look at the condition of the overall building in which your salon space will be situated, too. Find out how old the building is and try to learn if it has had any issues in recent years. Look for warning signs on the outside like crumbling brickwork or damaged gutters. Issues with things like pipes, electricity, or excess noise could all harm your business plans.

• 7. Access

  Think about how easily accessible your salon is. Look at the number of entrances and exits, it has, for example. A space with a backdoor can be really useful for getting deliveries or giving your clients another way to enter or leave. It also can help with safety reasons if you need to flee the building because of fires or emergencies.

• 8. Access for Disabled Persons

  A good question to ask of any space is “How would a disabled client get in and out of this location?” You may already have one disabled client or more in your client base, and others may be added in the future. So you need to make sure that your salon is accessible for those with restricted mobility. Is the right infrastructure in place, like ramps and elevators? Remember that salons on higher floors will be far less appealing to a disabled client.

• 9. Location-Specific Regulations

  With some potential salon sites, there are certain location-specific regulations to be aware of. If you choose a salon spot inside a mall or shopping complex, for example, you might be restricted in terms of your salon’s exterior appearance, working hours, and accessibility too. So these are all extra things to think about before deciding on locations for hair salons.

• 10. Image And History of the Site

  It’s a good idea to look into the history of the space you’re interested in renting to find out more about it. What sort of business was there before? Are there any vibes or expectations attached to the area that you’ll need to fit in with? If so, this could have an impact on your business strategy moving forward.

• 11. Relevant Businesses Nearby

  Take a look at the local area around your potential salon location. Look at the other businesses in the area. If there are several relevant businesses nearby, such as beauty parlors, shops, or boutiques, this could be beneficial for your business. Relevant businesses in sectors like beauty, style, and wellness can all help to generate extra clients to your business, basically giving you free marketing!

• 12. Relevant Area Image

  The general image and vibe of the local area are also important to take into account. Consider how the place looks and feels. Is it a safe and pleasant area to be in? If so, your intended clients will be more likely to spend time there and visit your business, helping to make it profitable. If not, people might be put off and stay away.

• 13. Area Development Plans

  Don’t just think about the past and present of the area, think about the future too. Do your research and learn about any possible development or construction plans in the area. You don’t want to commit to a long-term lease agreement, only to find yourself trying to attract clients to the middle of a construction site a few months later. If developments are planned, look into how long they will last and what is actually being developed to see if it can work with your salon plan.

• 14. Availability by Public Transportation

  This is another key factor for yourself, your staff, and your clients too. A lot of people, especially in cities, rely on public transport to get around. So you need to know if your intended location is easily accessible for the public. Are there any bus routes or subway stations nearby, for example? Look into how often the buses run and make sure the place is accessible for everyone.

• 15. Parking

  If people don’t take the bus or other public transport to your business, they’ll probably drive. So they’ll need a place to park. You and your staff may also need parking spaces too. So check on the parking situation around your potential salon. Try to find a place that has free parking close by. Otherwise, you may have to deal with parking costs on a daily basis and your clients might be put off by the extra cost as well.

• 16. Foot Traffic

  In the early days, you may not have a huge client base. So you might want to attract passers-by into your business. But you’ll need to actually have some passers-by to walk along in the first place. Check the area for average foot traffic. If your salon is situated on a busy city street, people may walk by and may decide to step in and contact you. This can help you grow. However, if you’re offering great customer experiences and a good “Google My Business” marketing strategy, you may not need too much traffic.

• 17. Visibility

  Think about the visibility of your place’s store sign and window displays. Will they be visible to people walking past or driving along the street? Or are there any obstructions like posts or poles that might make your place harder to spot? Is it well lit? Having good visibility can make your on-site marketing and branding efforts, like a good store sign and banners, more effective.

• 18. Safety

  It’s really important to think about safety too, especially if you’re planning a salon in a city that has certain dangerous areas or higher-than-average crime rates. It may be hard to attract customers if you’re situated in a bad part of the city. Look into safety statistics and think about things like how well the street is lit by street lights and lamp posts.

• 19. Local Demographics

  It’s wise to find out more about the local community too. You can research online to find out more about the community and see what sorts of people live, work, and spend time in the area. You can use this research to find a place where the community aligns with your salon’s target market and audience.

• 20. Local Government

  Consider the local government too. How well does it support businesses? Is the area well-known for being a place where small business owners are respected and salons tend to get the support they need? Or has the area seen a lot of businesses close down due to a lack of funding? If you want to have a profitable salon, it helps to be located in an area with good governmental support.

• 21. Seasonality

  Think about the seasonal side of your location too. Some places, like resorts, tend to be really busy and popular in the summer, due to the high numbers of tourists. So you might have a lot of success in the summer months. But then your client numbers may decrease quite heavily during other times of the year. Having a salon located in a business area can be convenient for success too.

• 22. Competitors in The Neighborhood

  Don’t forget to think about your competition. There may be other salons in the area offering similar services and treatments to you. They might even offer those treatments at a lower cost and already have their own loyal clients. This could make it hard for your business to be successful and break into the market. Finding a place with less competition can give you a better chance of being successful and attracting the target audience for your salon service.

• 23. Your Budget

  Cost is so important when planning a salon, and you need to think about how you’re going to pay for everything. This includes not just the lease agreement and utilities, but also your salon equipment like chairs and sinks to provide services and treatments, necessary extras to fit out your salon, and the general costs of running a salon at that address.

• 24. Possibility to Expand

  It’s wise for salon owners to think about the future of their businesses too. You may start off small, with only a small number of clients and a little location. But your salon may grow and expand as you gain more loyal customers. So you need to think about how easy it will be to get extra space by renting or buying additional premises or expanding your existing salon location.

• 25. Options to Choose From

  See at least several options. It will help you get experience, understand the market, adjust your plans/expectations.

Best Place to Open a Hair Salon

So what is the best location for a hair salon? Well, there's no simple, perfect answer to that question. It all depends on multiple elements.

You have to think about the city or town in which you're working, the needs of your customers, local travel links, your budget, and so much more.

You also have to find a space that goes with your salon strategy and brand idea.

Conclusion

If you’ve been wondering “Where should I open a salon?” or “How to choose a salon location?” then we hope that this guide has helped. As you can see, deciding on a location isn’t something you can simply do overnight. It takes a lot of time, thought, and consideration.

Be sure to keep all of the key tips and aspects from our guide in mind when searching for your perfect salon address. It won't be easy, but if you really focus, you'll find the one that will set you up for success.

Citations

Business location decisions in the United States: Estimates of the effects of unionization, taxes, and other characteristics of states
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07350015.1985.10509422

Therories of urban business location
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article

Corporate geography: business location principles and cases
https://books.google.com/books?hl=ru&lr=&id=NaJfBgA

Business organization, segmentation and location
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09595238300185441